Sole-laying press for use in the repair and manufacture of boots and shoes



Dec. 31, 1929. F. JOHNSON 1,741,844

v sou: LAYING PRESS FOR USE IN THE REPAIR AND MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND suozs Filed Feb, 2, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 l HIHHHH \H /2 JE/W T Dec. 31, 1929. F. JOHNSON 1,741,844

SOLE LAYING PRESS FOR USE IN THE REPAIR AND MANUFACTURE OF 5001's AND SHOES .Filed Feb 2, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 31, 1929. F. JOHNSON SOLE LAYING PRESS FOR USE IN THE REPAIR AND MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES I Filed Feb. 2, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 in /M2" i ll) Patents-cl Dec. 31, 1929 STATES UNITE FRED JOHNSON, OF LEICESTER, ENGLAND SOLE-LAYING PRESS non USE IN THE REPAIR AND MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES Application filed February 2, 1927, Serial No; 165,365, and in Great Britain February 17, 1926.

This invent-ion relates tosole'laying presses for use in the repair and manufacture of boots and shoes and concerns presses of the type which include a screwor other pressure 5 applying device, a sole support usually of a semi-solid character carried by a base or bed and a member upon which the pressure apply ing device acts to pressthe work down upon the support.

The main disadvantage with most presses as constructed heretofore has been that the aforesaid base or bed served to carry the frame of the press so that movement of the work relatively to the pressure applyingde- 13 vice was impossible, except to a very limited extent determined by the size of the semisolid support, and consequently when laying a whole or fulldougth sole in particular, the pressure was not distributed evenly over the so whole area of the sole i. e. the forepart received most of the pressure, with the result that the rear or heel part was less firmly attached to the boot or shoe.

One objectof the invention is to eliminate 25 this disadvantage by providing for the movement of the said base or bed relatively to the pressure applying device so that maximum pressure may beeveniy distributed over the area of the sole or so that the pressure may be applied where most required. A further object of the invention is to provide a semi-solid sole support whereby a closer and more uniform contact may be obtained between the sole and the boot or shoe during the pressing operation that has been possible hitherto.

According to the present invention the base or bed for the sole support consists of a separate unit, that is to say it is made separate from or independent of the remainder of the press. so that it can be readily moved to any des' d position in relation to the pressure applying device.

Preferably the base or bed consists of a siidable block adapted for use with or on a base plate or equivalent forming part of the press without attachment thereto. The unit or block isthus removable from the press and interchangeable with others of different shapes or sizes.

In association with such base or bed I provide a sole support consisting of a bag or like container filled with French chalk, powdered graphite or some similar comminuted substance. it is found in practice that French chalk is most suitable for the purpose intended as it is particularly impressionable, in other words it enables the support to readily accommodate itself to the contour of the sole pressed thereon, following which it becomes compact to such a degree as to offer considerable resistance to the pressure. A further advantage is that the chalk can be'readily restored to its original condition in the sup port subsequently to the removal of the finished work by merely bending or similarly manipulating the support in orderto break up the compact mass. The bag or container for the French chalk may be made of canvas or any other suitable fabric or material and may have a leather or other pad attached to it for the sole to press upon.

The aforesaid base or block which may be made of wood or metal may be of a solid character and hollowed or otherwise suitably shaped on one face to receive the sole support so that the latter may readily conform to the curvature of the work.

According to a mooiiied form of the invention a base or bed of a yielding character is provided so as to render the semisolid sole support more readily adjustable to the curvature of the work and thereby further engrender a close and uniform contact between the sole and the boot or shoe.

A feature of the yielding base or bed is that when the work is placed in position and pressed down on the semi-solid support the sole is subjected to pressure first in the centre and then all round from the centre outwards.

Preferably the said base or bed comprises male and female sections, that is to say, one is adapted to fit detachably within the other, the inner or male section being made yieldable for which purpose it is associated with some resilient material or means. For example the said section may be provided with a backing of sponge rubber or some similar material or it may be backed by compression or other suitable springs. Thearrangenient may be such that when the base or bed is in use the resilient backing is located between the inner section and the base plate or equivalent of the press. Alternatively the outer or female section may be provided with a wood or metal backing to support the resilient material or means.

In further describing the invention, reference will be hereinafter made to the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of a press embodying a convenient form of the invention wherein a yielding base or block is employed.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a solid base or block which may be used according to the invention.

Figure 3 is a sectional side elevation of the aforesaid press representing the same in use.

Figure 4 is a section taken on line IV-IV of Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is a sectional plan of the press with parts removed.

The press illustrated by way of example is constructed to deal with a pair of boots or shoes at a time, and accordingly, as shown in Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5, there are provided two separate bases or beds for the semi-solid sole supports, each comprising an inner section 1, the configuration of which resembles that of a half sole, and an outer section 2 having thereon a corresponding cavity, hole or opening 3, which is preferably flared, i. e. at 3, for the reception of the inner section. The faces of the two sections are shaped to approximate to the curvature of the work. For each bed there is provided a sole support 4 which consists of a canvas bag filled with French chalk. This support, which is preferably elliptical and about two inches thick, corresponds substantially in length and breadth with the outer section 2 of the base or bed. Preferably a leather or other pad 5, the size and shape of which corresponds with that of the said outer section, so as to overlap the edge of the cavity, hole or opening 3 therein, is interposed between the bed and the sole support. Conveniently this pad is attached to the inner section 1 of the base or bed by adhesive, nails or like fastening means. The sole support may also have a corresponding leather pad 6 applied to that face thereof which opposes the work. Located centrally in the opening 3 is a pad 7 of sponge rubber upon which the inner section 1 rests when inserted into the outer section. Conveniently, this pad is attached, e. g. by adhesive, to a backing 8 attached to the said outer section. In- Figure 5 one of the outer sections is shown Without the inner section 1, pad 5, and sole support 4, in order to clearly show the opening 3 and the pad 7 therein. Alternatively the pad of sponge rubber may be attached to the back of the section 1' so as to impinge upon the backing 8 or the base plate or equivalent of the press in the event of the backing not being provided. Or the pad 7 may be loosely interposed between the inner section 1 and the backing 8 or the base base plate or equivalent of the press as the case may be.

Preferably the thickness of the pad is such that the surface of the inner section normally lies flush with, although it may project slightly above, the surface of the outer section. Assuming that a base or bed is in use with the sole support 4 thereon ready to receive the work, as represented in Figure 1, when the work is placed in position and the pressure applied thereto, by means of the screw 9, as represeunted in Figure 2, wherein the work and pressure transmitting means are indicated by dot and dash lines, the inner section 1 of the bed first yields, that is to say it is pressed downwards within the outer section thereby compressing the sponge rubber so that the sole support 4 is adjusted to the curvature of and pressure is applied to the half sole 10 at the centre. During continued downward pressure the marginal part of the support 4 is held up to the work by reason of the contact of the corresponding marginal part of the pad 5 with the edge of the cavity or opening 3, as represented in Figures 3 and 1. The sole support is therefore effectually shaped or moulded to the sole over the whole area thereof.

The action is such that the pressure is applied first to the centre part of the sole and then outwards therefrom in all directions right up to the edge. If desired, the base or bed may be so constructed that the inner section thereof may yield to such extent as to enable the work to be effectually bedded down upon the sole support l aforesaid, and then offer unyielding resistance to continued pressure in company with the outer section. Rubber or other pads 11 may be provided on the outer section at the rear end of the opening 3 as a further or supplementary means for holding up the rear end of the sole support to the corresponding edge of the half sole when pressure is applied so that the said edge becomes effectually pressed down and maxi mum adhesion of the half sole to the boot or shoe is ensured.

Instead of employing a yieldable base or bed, I may use a solid block of the form shown in Figure 2, the size and shape of which is substantially the same that of the yielding bed.

Obviously the dimensions of the bed and the sole support and the contour of the face of the bed are determined by the work to be performed. That is to say, for laying whole or full-length soles as for example, in the manufacture of boots and shoes, a bed and sole support of corresponding lengths will be provided while, as in the example of the invention previously described, a shorter bed and sole support will be provided for laying half soles as in the repair of boots and shoes. Further, the bed and sole support may. be of a superficial area enabling them to be used for laying soles of a number of different sizes.

A single bed and sole support or a plurality of beds and sole supports according to the invention may be provided according as to whether the press is designed to deal with boots or shoes singly or with a pair (as in the illustrative example) or more than a pair of boots and shoes at a time, and such press may comprise a base plate or board 12 and associated uprights or frame members 18 vhich carry a cross bar or member 1a fitted with a rotatable screw or screws 9 as the case may be. A removable handwheel 15 or equivalent operating member may be provided for rotating the screw or screws.

It will be understod the bed or beds employed to carry the sole support or supports are not attached to the base plate or equivalent of the press in any way so that it or they maybe slidably moved on the base plate or equivalent to the desired position or positions under the screw or screws. To illustrate this, one of the beds is shown sli htly displaced relatively to the other on the base plate or board 12 in Figures 1, 3 and o.

d If desired the sole support may consist of a canvas or other bottle (not shown) filled with French chalk, the bottle being provided with a mouth whereby it maybe filled and when necessary replenished. When the bottle is full, the mouth or equivalent may be closed by means of a cord or other suitable fastening means.

The arrangement shown by dotted lines in Figure 3, for pressing the work on the sole support 4 is similar to that described in the specification of my co-pending application No. 150,923 of Nov. 26, 1926. That is to say, the shoe 16 (or boot) to which the half-sole 10 is to be applied, is placed on an ordinary metal last 1? and the latter has a device 18 applied thereto which is engaged by the screw 9 and transmits the pressure exerted thereby to the last to press the work upon the support.

What I claim is 1. For a sole-laying press of the type which includes a pressure applying member and a semi-soiled Work support, a bed for said support having a cavity therein which when the support lieson the bed is located under the central portion ofthe support, whereby whenthe work is in position and sub jected to pressure on the support the latter first yields in the centre whereupon under continued pressure the marginal portion of the support is held up to the work by the edge of the cavity, said support thereby conforming to the shape of the work'over the Whole area of the latter.

2. For a sole-laying press of the type which includes a pressure applyingmember and a semi-solid work support, a bed for said support consisting of a member with a cavity in it, and means in said cavity for yield ingly upholding that portion of the support which lies over the cavity whereby when the work is in position and subjected to pressure on the support, the latter first yields in the centre whereupon under continued pressure the marginal portion thereof is held up to the work by the edge of the cavity, said sup port thereby conforming tothe shape of the workover the whole area of thelatter.

8. For a sole-laying press which includes. a pressure applying member and a semi-solid work support, a bed for said support having a yieldable centre whereby when the work is in position and subjected to pressure on the support the latter first yields in the centre whereupon under continued pressure the marginal portion thereof is held up to the work said support thereby conforming to the shape of the work over the whole area of the latter, such bed also being formed as a unit separate from the remainder of the press so as to be readily movable to different positions in relation to the pressure applying member.

4. For a sole-laying press which includes a pressure applying member and a semi-solid work support, a bed for said support comprising a member with a central cavity in it and means in said cavity for yieldingly upholding that portion of the support which lies over the cavity, whereby when the work is in position and subjected-to pressure on the support the latter first yields in the centre whereupon under continued pressure the marginal portion thereof is held up to the work bythe edge of the cavity, said support thereby conforming to the shape of the work over the whole area of the latter, such bed also being formed as a unit separate from the remainder of the press so as to be readily movable to different positions in relation to the pressure applying member.

5. For a sole-laying press of the type herein described, a work support consisting of a pliable container filled with a comminuted substance, a bed for said support, and means disposed centrally in the bed for enabling the support to yield, more particularly in the centre, and thereby more readily adjust itself to the curvature of the Work. 7

6. For a sole-laying press of the type herein described, a work support consisting of a pliable container filled with acomminuted substance, and a bed for said support have ing a cavity therein which, when the support lies on the bed, is'located under the central portion of the support whereby when the Work is in position and subjected to pressure on the support, the latter first yields in the centre whereupon under continued pressure the marginal portion thereof is held up to the work by the edge of the cavity, said support thereby conformingto the shape of the work over the whole area of the latter.

7. For a sole-laying press of the type herein described, a work support consisting of a pliable container filled with a comminuted substance, and a bed therefor comprising a member having a central cavity therein, means in the cavity for yieldingly upholding that portion of the support which lies over the cavity, whereby when the work is in position and subjected to pressure on the work support the latter first yields in the centre whereupon under continued pressure the marginal portion thereof is held up to the work by the edge of the cavity, said support therebv conforming to the shape of the work over the whole area of the latter.

8. For a sole-laying press of the type herein described, a work support consisting of a pliable container filled with French chalk, a bed for said support, and means disposed centrally in the bed so that when the work is in position and subjected to pressure on the support the latter first yields in the centre whereupon under continued pressure the marginal portion thereof is held up to the work,

said support thereby conforming to the shape of the work over the whole area of the latter.

9. For a sole-laying press of the type herein described, a work support consisting of a pliable container filled with a comminuted substance, a bed for said support, and means disposed centrally in said bed for engendering conformation of the support to the work over the whole area of the latter, such bed also being formed as a unit separate from the remainder of the press and slidable horizontally to any desired operative position in relation to the pressure applying member, for the purpose set forth.

10. For a sole-laying press of the type herein described, a work support consisting of a pliable container filled with French chalk, and a bed for said support having a central cavity therein whereby when the work is in position and subjected to pressure on the support the latter first yields in the centre whereupon under continued pressure the marginal portion thereof is held up to the work by the edge of the cavity, said support thereby conforming to the shape of the work over the whole area of the latter, such bed also being formed as a unit separate from the remainder of the press so as to be readily movable to different positions in relation to the pressure applying member.

11. For a sole-laying press of the type herein described, a work support consisting of a pliable container filled with a 'comminuted substance, a bed for said support comprising a member with a central cavity in it and means in said cavity for yieldingly upholding that portion of the support which lies over the cavity whereby when the work is in position and subjected to pressure on the support the latter first yields in the centre whereupon under continued pressure the marginal portion thereof is held up to the work by the edge of the cavity said support thereby conforming to the shape of the work over the whole area thereof, such bed being formed as a unit separate from the remainder of the press and slidable horizontally to any desired operative position in relation to the pressure applying member.

12. A sole-laying press comprising means for applying pressure to the work, a semisolid work support, a bed for said support consisting of a unit separate from the remainder of the press, said support consisting of a pliable container filled with a comminuted substance, and means disposed centrally in said bed so that when the work is in position and subjected to pressure on the support the latter yields in the centre whereupon under continued pressure the marginal portion is held up to the work, all for the purpose set forth.

13. A sole-laying press comprising means for applying pressure to the work, a loose bed, and a semisolid work support for use on the bed, said support consisting of a pliable container filled with a comminuted substance, said bed comprising a member having a cavity in it, and means in the cavity for yieldingly upholding that portlon of the support which lies over the cavity, all for the purpose set forth.

14. A sole-laying press comprising a pressure applying screw, means for transmitting the pressure from the screw to the work, a loose bed, asemi-solid work support for use on the bed, said support consisting of a phable container filled with a comminuted substance, said bed comprising a rigid section having a cavity therein, a loose section fitting in the cavity, and resilient material in the cavity for yieldingly supporting the section therein, all for the purpose set forth.

15. A sole laying press comprising means for applying pressure to the work, a bed, and a loose semi-solid work support conformable to the shape of the work for use on the bed, the latter being adapted to yield under pressure of the work support thereon more in the center than at the edges to facilitate conformation of said support to the shape of the work over the whole area of the latter.

16. A sole laying press comprising means for applying pressure to the work, a bed, and a loose semi-solid work support conformable to the shape of the work for use on the bed, the latter being adapted to yield under pres sure of the work support thereon more in the center than at the edges to facilitate conformotion of said support to the shape of the Work over the Whole area of the latter, and said bed being slidable horizontally to any desired operative position in relation to the means for applying pressure to the Work, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FRED JOHNSON. 

